Car-coupling.



No.. 783,884. PATENTE!) FEB. 28, 1905. C MOCARTER GAR GOUPLING.

APPLIOATION FILED 53111212. 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l,

C. MGARTER.

GAR OOUPLING.

APPLIUATION FILED SEPT. 12, 1904.

PATENTED FEB. 28, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

No. '783,884t.

n STATES .Patented February 28, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

(flfl'ARLES iVloUARTER, (lli` CHAIITANOOG-A, 'lENNESSEPL ASSIG'NOR TO R055n MEEHAN FOUNDRY CUb/LPANY, O1" ClrIAllA'NOOi-A, TENNESSEE, A COR PORATI N OF rFlllblESEEE.A

onaecoumme.

SPECIIECATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 783,884, dated February 28, 1905..

Application filed September l2, 1904. Serial No. 224,137.

.lie it known that l, CHM/:Les McCAirrnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chattanooga,in the county of Hamilton and State of 5 'l`ennessee, have invented new and uset'ul lmprovements in Car-Couplings, oi' which the following is a specilication.

This invention relates to car-couplings.

'.lhe improved car-coupling, which is of the ro Janney type, involves in its construction a chamber-ed draw-head and a knuckle associated with said head, the knuckle being, as is the custom, movable about a vertical axis. ln connection with the knuckle l employ a gravity-dog; and it is the primary object of the invention to maintain the locking-dog positively in its closed, or knuckle-locking, and open, or knucklereleasing', positions and its travel toward such positions when released by simzo ple and eii'ective means.

lt is a further object ot' the invention to maintain the locking-dog in position to secure the opening of the knuckle and without the necessity of a trainman holding it in such relation, such means 'being oi' advantage when it is desired to nncouple two stationary cars.

The invention involves other objects and advantages, which, with thet'oregoing, will be set lorth at length in the following description.

3o ln said description .ll will set forth in detail that adaptation of the invention which `for convenience l have selected for illustration in the accompanyingdrawings, :forming a part ol'l this specilication; but I do not limit inysell to the showing thus made, 'for certain variations may be adopted within the scope of my claims succeeding said description.

Referring to the drawings, Eigure l is a top plan View of a coupling involving my inven- 4o tion, showing by dotted lines an adjacent knuckle, the locking-dog in said ligure being' in position to free the cooperating knuckle.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional plan view ot' the coupling, the dog being in its knucklelocking position. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional elevation ot' the same, the dog being substantially in the position in which it is tive detail oil.i the knuckle and dog detached and a hub hereinafter described. Fig. 5 is a 50 similar View ol the pin for the dog. Fig. (3 is a lront elevation ot' the coupling' and a means for operating the dog.

The coupling illustrated in the drawings in# volves a chambered head, as 2, and a knuckle, as 3, the tail portion oi" which is arranged to be swung into and out of the interior oi the head., '.lhe knuckle, thc working portion ot' which is of a familiar shape, is pivotally connected with the head 'tor turniilg move- 60 ment about a vertical axis, a pin, as LL, oi the ordinary kind being represented to secure such action. The locking-dog for the knuckle is denoted in a general way by 5, it being housed within the chambered portion of the head 2 and being held in assembled relation therewith by means ot' a pivot-pin, as (3, extending vertically through the substantially cylindrical body portion 7 of the li'icking-dog.

The lower end ot the pin 6 is stepped in the 7o bottom ot the head, while the upper portion thereoiI extends through a perforation in the top oi' said head i'or turning movement. The `intermediate portion oil,E the pin 6 is squared to lit a correspondiugly-shaped opening' ex- 75 tending depthwise or vertically oi the body oi' the locking-dog.

From the cylindrical body of the locking dog arms 8 and 9 extend substantially in opposite directions, the arm 8 being straight, 8o while the arm 9 is somewhat curved. lhe arm 8 terminates at its free end in a lateral lug l0, cooperative with the tail of the knuckle 3. The lug l() constitutes the eliective portion of the knuckle and is shown in its op- 8 5 erative position in Fig. 2, at which time it is in the path of the tail ot' the knuckle, so as to prevent the knuckle from opening'. Un what might be considered the inner side of the tail portion of the knuckle is a concavity 1l, congo.

centric with the axis of motion oi' the lockingdog when the knuckle is in its normal posi tion, by reason of which construction the locking-dog can be readily opened to eliect the release of the knuckle. To release the knuckle,

represented in Fig. 2. Fig. 4E isa pcrspecl the projection il.) is carried out ot' the path oi' "hcn the lockf ing-dog' is swung or advanced to the position i shown by dotted lines in Fig'. 1, it releases the y knuckle, and during the motion mentioned the free end of the curved arm 9 is carried against the inner side of the tail portion of the kuuci kle. On the continued advancing motion of the locking-dog said curved arm will by engaging' said tail portion kick or force the knuckle open in an obvious manuel'.

I will describe the means illustrated for actuating, through the intervention of a trainman, the locking-dog. Upon the end of the car at which the coupling is situated a rock-shaft, as 12, is mounted in some suitable way, it having at its opposite ends cranks or handles 13 and between its ends a third crank, as 14, connected by a suitable connection, as that denoted in a general way by 15, with the arm 8 at a suitable distance from the center of motion of the locking-dog. The connection 15 extends through a perforation in the top of the coupling-head. IV hen, therefore, the shaft 12 is rocked in the proper direction through the manipulation of one of the cranks or handles 13, the locking-dog' 5 will, through the medium of the connection 15, be moved first to the position shown in Fig. 1 from that illustrated in Fig. 2 in order simply to effect the release of the knuckle, or it can be moved further in order to kick or positively open the knuckle by the striking of the curved arm against the outer side of the tail portion of the knuckle. ln the construction described there is no strain upon the pin 6 when the coupling is in action, the strain being' applied to the locking-lug 10 and being' lateral.

Interiorly of the head and rising' from the bottom thereof isa hub or hollow boss 16, su rrounding' the lower portion of the locking-d og pin 6, and the upper portion of which constitutes a seat or support for the cylindrical body of the gravity locking-dog 5 when the latter is in its two eXtreme shifted positions. On the upper edge of the hub or hollow boss 6 there are illustrated two inclined faces 17 and 18, which converge toward the top of the head. As a matter of fact, the two faces are illustrated as merging at' their upper ends. On the lower edge of the cylindrical body of the locking-dog' are two correspondingly-inclined faces 19 and 20, cooperative with the faces 17 and 18, but which converge toward the bottom of the head. I'Vhen the lockingdog' 5 is in its operative position, the inclined face 20 thereof will lie solidly against the inclined face 17 of the hub 16, which relation is i illustrated in Fig'. t, it being evident that by the engagement of said two faces the lockingdog is held positively against opening' movement when the tail of the knuckle presses against the lug' 10. By swinging the arm 8 toward the rig'ht in Fig. 2 to carry the lug 10 out of the path of the tail of the knuckle 3 In Fig. 2 l the inclined face 2O will be caused to ride up and then olf the inclined face 17, the consequence being that the locking-dog is bodily elevated on its pin 6. When the inclined face 2O passes off the inclined face 17, the lug 10 will have passed outof the path of motion of the tail of the knuckle to free the latter. After the face 2O passes ofi' the face 17 the face 19 will be brought into position to ride down the face 18. On the continued swing'ing movement of the locking-dog the curved arm thereof will be caused to abut against the tail portion of the knuckle to swing' said knuckle positively open. The locking-dog' 5 is momentarily maintained in its elevated position for a purpose that will hereinafter appear, and when it is released the inclined face 2.0 can fall against and then down the inclined face 18 by the gravitation of the dog 5, this action occurring during the knuckle-openingaction of said dog. Then the locking-dog has reached its lower and shifted position, the inclined face 20 will abut solidly against the inclined face 18, the latter serving' as a means to prevent accidental closing' of the dog. Vhen the knuckle is closed in the customary manner by the coupling of two cars, the tail portion thereof by engaging the arm 9 of the locking-dogswings said dog toward its original position. Initially, therefore, when the dog moves toward its original position the inclined face 2O rides up the inclined face 18, and when the two faces are out of contact the parts will have reached the position shown approximately in Fig. 1. On the slight further motion of the knuckle in closing the inclined face 2() will be brought into line with the inclined face 17, and when this relation ensues the face Q0 can slide down the face 17 by the weight of the dog 5, so as naturally to complete the motion of the locking-dog to its original position independent of the action of the knuckle. The several inclined faces therefore cooperate in positively guiding' the dog 5 to its two extreme shifted positions and prevent accidental retractive motion of said dog.

By reason of the non-rotative connection between thc pin 6 and the locking-dog 5 said dog can bc operated from the pin without having' recourse to the shaft 12. For this purpose the upper end of the pin has a handle, as 21, by which the pin can be turned in order to correspondingly turn the locking-dog'.

I have hereinbefore set forth the proce-dure that is usually followed in opening' the knuckle 8 whenl the same is not connected with a like knuckle. In such a case as this it is desirable to mechanically and forcibly open the knuckle after it has been released. In some cases it is only necessary to effect the release of a knuckle-for example, when the same is coupled to another knuckle. In the latter event the act of separating two cars the couplings of which carry said knuckles effect-s the opening' of the released knuckle, and I provide IOO IIO

massa means for positively holding the locking-dog elevated and iu its lmuckle-releasing position, so that a trainman need not remain at hand for this purpose. Upon the tail portion olI the knuckle, near the hub thereof, is a horizontal ledge or projection 22, cooperative with the free end et' the curved arm 9. Then the locking-dog is turned and necessarily elevated to free the knuckle in the manner hereinbe- 'lforedescribem the curved arm l) will ride over the upper side oil the ledge or projection 2Q just after the inclined face Q() passes oli' the inclined llace 17, as indicated in lFig. 3, to positively uphold the dog or prevent its accidental return to its lumckle-loeking position. Then the knuckle is opened by the act of separating two cars, the ledge or projection 22 is carried from olli' the arm 9 to release the dog 5, so that the same can drop to carry the :face 1.9 against and then down the lace 18, the motion being completed when the knuckle has been opened wide. li' through any cause the dog 5 should be in its closed or knuckle-locking position while the knuckle is open, the tail portion ot' the knuckle will in the act of closin r strike the lug 10 and will swing the arm 8, carrying said lug, toward the right in Fig. 2, the face Z0 during this action riding up the face 1T a distance sullicient to permit the knuckle to lully close. When the knuckle is Jr'ully closed, it frees the dog, so that the latter by gravity can resume quickly its knuckledocking position. In some cases the knuckle when released may be opened. by direct manipulation.

VIt is not necessary that l. should employ all the `features hereinbet'orc described, l'or in certain cases some of them may be omitted.

ln Figs. and Il I. have illustrated the lockingdog and cooperating hub constituting part ol' the drawdiead as having each only a pair olI inclined Vfaces. 1 have adopted this simply Yl'or convenience and to avoid confusion in illustration. ln Fig. 2 l have illustrated the two parts as each having two pairs of cam-faces.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim l. ,ln a car-coupling, a draw-head and a knuckle therein, combined with a gravity locking-dog 'for the knuckle, havingI oppositely-in clined faces, the d rawl1ead having cooperating' inclined i'aces to maintain the locking-dog in its closed and open positions respectively, and to guide it toward such positions.

2. ln a car-coupling, a draw-head and a knuckle therein, com bined with a gravity locki ing-d og Yfor the knuckle, haiujing opposi telyinclined faces, the d raw-head having cooperating inclined faces to maintain the locking-dog in its closed and open positions respectively and to guide it toward such positions, anda pivotpin for the gravity locking-dog,non-rotatively associated therewith and having means for its manual operation.

ln a car-coupling, a draw-head and a knuckle therein, combined with a gravity locking-dog Vlor the knuckle, having oppositely-inclined faces, the draw-head having` coperating inclined faces to maintain the locking-dog in its closed and open positions respectively, and to guide it toward such positions, and a pivot-pin For the locking-dog,having' a squared shank, the locking-dog having a correspondingly-shai'ied opening to receive said shank, said pin having a handle at its upper end for its manual operation.

4. ln a car-coupling, a draw-head and a knuckle therein, combined with a gravity locking-dog for the knuckle, having oiiipositely-inclined faces, the drawshead having copera- 1 tive inclined 'faces to maintain the locking-dog in its closed and open positions respectively, and to guide it toward such positions, said dog being arranged to occupy an elevated position to free the knuckle, and means for temporarily holding the dog in said elevated position.

In a `carcoupling, a draw-head and a knuckle therein, combined with a gravity locking-dog for the knuckle, having oppositely-inclined `faces, the draw-head having coperative inclined faces to maintain the locking-dog in its closed and open positions respectively, and to guide .it toward such positions, said dog being arranged to occupy an elevated position to free the knuckle, and means on the knuckle for temporarily maintaining the dog in its elevated position.

(i. ln a car-coupling, a drawhead and a knuckle therein, combined with a gravity locking-dog for the knuckle, having oppositely-inclined faces, and a hub in the draw-head upon which the lockingdog rests and having on its upper edge oppositely-inclined Yfaces to cooperate with those on the dog and serving to maintain the locking-dog in its open and closed positions respectively, and to guide it toward such positions.

7. ln a car-coupling, a draw-head and a knuckle therein, combined with a gravity lockin gdog for the knuckle, having oppositely-inclined l'aces, the draw-head having rigidly associated therewith cooperating inclined faces to maintain the locking-dog in its closed and i open positions respectively and to guide it toward such positions.

8. ln a car-coiixpling, a draw-head ancha kn uekle therein, combined with a gravity locking-dog for the knuckle, having oppositel y-inclined l'aces, the draw-head having rigidly associated therewith cooperating inclined faces to maintain the locking-dog in its closed and open positions respectively and to guide it toward such positions,said dog, when operated, serving to successively release and then forcibly open the knuckle, and means independent ol' the dog for causing the opening of the knuckle.

9. ln a car-coupling, a draw-head and a knuckle therein, combined with a gravity locking-dog for the knuckle, having oppositely-in IOO clined faces, the draw-head having coperatl In testimony whereof I have hereunto set ing inclined faces'rigidly associated therewith ,f my hand in presence of two subscribing witto maintain the locking-dog in its closed and l nesses.

open positions respectively and to guide it to- CHARLES MCCARTER. Ward such positions, and means on the knuckle l lVitnesses:

to temporarily hold the locking-dog in an elel G. V. MEEHAN,

vated position. P. A. BRAWNER. 

